Key Takeaways:
- Nursing offers a wide range of career paths with varying salaries depending on factors such as experience, education, specialization, and location.
- Several nursing fields on this list present unique challenges due to the nature of the work, patient populations, and healthcare environments.
- All of these nursing fields require specialized knowledge, critical thinking skills, emotional resilience, and the ability to adapt to dynamic healthcare environments.
This ranking examines the top-earning nursing careers.
Regarding job outlook, there are plenty of opportunities right now for healthcare professionals. The MSN is where nurses cement their area of expertise. For a broad overview of the MSN degree check out our article. And these job openings are only increasing. According to the BLS, the healthcare field is expected to expand by 16% from 2020 to 2030. This will result in nearly 2.5 million new jobs, including over 200,000 new high-paying RN jobs. In this ranking, our editors identify the highest-paid nursing jobs and nursing specialties. These include positions for RNs, clinical nurse specialists, and nurse practitioners. Many of these jobs require specific licenses. If you want to know more about these, check out our guide to basic nursing licenses.
#1. Certified Nurse Anesthetist
Average Salary: $183,580
Wage Per Hour: $87.28
Taking the number one spot in our list of best-paid nursing career options is that of a nurse anesthetist. Known as an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or clinical nurse specialist, a nurse anesthetist is a particular type of nurse. He or she administers anesthesia during surgeries and other medical procedures.
Besides administering anesthesia, these certified nurses must have excellent bedside manners. This is because many patients experience anxiety before anesthesia. These patients may only see the nurse anesthetist at the beginning of a procedure. Still, this highly trained medical professional must continue to provide care once the patient is asleep. Certified registered nurse anesthetists are responsible for monitoring the patient’s vital signs during the surgery. Nurse anesthetists may also need to adjust the amount of anesthesia administered as necessary.
To become a nurse anesthetist, nursing students must embark on a highly specialized course of study. This coursework will culminate in a master’s degree or doctoral degree. Specific licenses and certifications may also be required for certified registered nurse anesthetists. This means nurse anesthetists may have to take a certification exam. These requirements may vary depending on the state in which they practice. Nurse anesthetists work in hospitals and outpatient clinics.
#2. Chief Nursing Officer
Average Salary: $133,623
Wage Per Hour: $60.34
One of the highest-paid nurses in the world, a chief nursing officer, or CNO, is the leading nurse administrator or nurse manager in a healthcare facility. Sometimes known as the chief nurse executive (CNE), this nursing professional manages the daily operations of a nursing department. He or she also acts as a liaison between nurses and other departments within a hospital or clinic. Working with other nurse administrators, the CNO may make important decisions about:
- nursing practices
- departmental budgeting
- patient care
He or she may also work with other healthcare executives throughout the hospital or other healthcare facilities. This collaboration among nurse managers is necessary to coordinate work tasks and professional responsibilities. It’s also required to develop business strategies for the healthcare organization.
To become a chief nursing officer, registered nurses must hold at least a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This credential must be earned from an accredited nursing school. Many CNOs have advanced degrees in nursing. A common graduate credential is a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) with a specialty in Nursing Administration. Because the role requires a high degree of business acumen, some chief nursing executives earn an MBA with a healthcare administration concentration. Moreover, it is not uncommon for some more extensive medical facilities to hire CNO candidates with a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP). Chief nursing officers may also hold professional licenses and certifications related to their occupational roles as top nurse administrators. A common credential is The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)’s Nurse Executive Certification (NE-BC). Continuing education may be required to maintain certification.
#3. Director of Surgical Services
Average Salary: $117,715
Wage Per Hour: $48.45
The Director of Surgical Services is among the highest-paid nursing jobs with BSN credentials. This surgical nurse manager holds a multifaceted role within a hospital or outpatient clinic’s surgical wing. He or she oversees the operations of a surgical department, including the surgical nurse staff. This also includes the department’s budget, resources, and outcomes. Specific tasks of a surgical services director may include supervising and evaluating the work of other members of the surgical team. He or she may also be required to buy surgical equipment as necessary. Other possible duties include ensuring excellent patient care and planning departmental improvements.
Besides an RN credential, nursing professionals must have several years of professional experience as surgical nurses to become a Director of Surgical Services. Some candidates hold a master’s degree in nursing and a clinical nurse specialist designation. Others have an advanced degree from an accredited program in business with a healthcare administration specialty. Like other careers in the healthcare industry, the job outlook for this profession is promising.
Whatever their educational backgrounds and training, surgical services directors must have strong management and leadership skills to manage the surgical nurse team. Other skills necessary for the job include:
- project management
- budget analysis
- knowledge of human resource principles
#4. Family Nurse Practitioner (General Nurse Practitioners)
Average Salary: $111,680
Wage Per Hour: $53.21
Another extremely popular option for individuals looking for the most lucrative nursing specialty is the occupation of a family nurse practitioner. Family nurse practitioners are highly skilled advanced practice registered nurses. This type of certified registered nurse practitioner actually works as a primary care provider for their patients. Often, a family nurse practitioner, also known as a general nurse practitioner, will perform many of the same tasks as doctors. This includes duties typically reserved for a primary care physician, like ordering tests and prescribing medications.
Family nurse practitioner / general nurse practitioner jobs are currently in very high demand, according to current job outlook projections. This is due to an aging “baby boomers” population who need more care as they get older. The BLS reports a 52% increase in employment opportunities for family nurse practitioners and general nurse practitioners over the next eight years. The growth will result in more than 110,000 new positions for qualified family nurse practitioners/ general nurse practitioners. In addition to this promising job outlook, family nurse practitioners earn some of the highest salaries in the healthcare profession. This is understandable since they do act as primary care providers.
Family nurse practitioners must undergo a specialized course of study and training in a master’s or doctoral degree program. Typically, a family nurse practitioner or general nurse practitioner is also required to hold national certification in family practice. Plus, a state license is necessary for a family health nurse practitioner to practice in a clinical setting. Nurse practitioners may work for hospitals or outpatient clinics, or they may have a private practice.
#5. Nurse Midwife
Average Salary: $111,130
Wage Per Hour: $57.39
Nurse midwives make well over six figures per year, on average. This makes the position one of the top nursing careers available. Nurse midwives are types of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) who hold a nurse practitioner certification. They deliver babies and provide medical care for women before, during, and after giving birth. The certified nurse midwife is also trained to be the primary care provider during labor. He or she often assists a doctor during a cesarean section. Nurse midwives must have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. They must be able to keep mothers and their partners informed and reassured during the birthing process. Moreover, they must be able to stay calm in case of an emergency or unexpected complication during labor. These are some of the only types of nurses authorized to order diagnostic tests and prescribe medication.
Certified nurse midwives are not only some of the highest-paid nurses in the world. They’re also some of the most sought-after. Like many other professions in healthcare, nurse midwives are in demand. Regarding job outlook, the BLS predicts an 11% increase in employment for qualified nurse midwives between 2020 and 2030.
Nurse-midwives must enroll in a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) program Once enrolled, they will pursue a specialty in Nurse-Midwifery. Depending on where they live, these advanced practice nurses may also need certain licenses or certifications to practice their profession as certified nurse midwives. A common example of nurse practitioner certification includes the Certified Professional Midwife (CPM) credential from the American Midwifery Certification Board (AMCB). Continuing education may also be required to maintain certification as a certified nurse midwife. Like the rest of the top five nursing roles featured here, advanced education will help you keep your edge in your career. You might want to consider one of these affordable DNP programs you can earn online. A doctor of nursing practice doesn’t have to be immensely expensive. You can earn one in most cases while you keep working full-time or part-time. Your place of employment may even help with your tuition. Nurse midwives may work for hospitals or outpatient clinics. Or, they may operate via private practice.
#6. Quality Management Director
Average Yearly Salary: $103,283
Wage Per Hour: $38.97
Like many of the highest-paid nursing occupations, the nursing specialty of a quality management director requires a high level of skill and experience. This includes knowledge of both management and healthcare. These professionals ensure quality outcomes for a hospital or other healthcare facility. Their duties may include confirming that hospital policies and guidelines follow regulatory standards and approved best practices. These types of directors may also develop budgets and financial guidelines for various departments. Other tasks involve devising plans for improving aspects of the clinical environment, such as safety, patient care, and efficiency.
Besides a registered nurse (RN) credential, quality management directors are usually required to have at least a bachelor’s degree in nursing, or BSN. Most employers also expect applicants to have at least five years of experience in a supervisory or management role. Many quality management directors also have a master’s degree in business and/or nursing.
#7. Operating Room Manager
Average Annual Salary: $93,788
Wage Per Hour: $40.84
Another high-paying nursing specialty is that of an operating room manager. This specialty merges skills in business and healthcare. Not to be confused with a surgical services director, an operating room manager plays more of a hands-on role in the nursing field. That is, the OR manager is a nursing administrator who handles the organization and efficiency of the operating room itself. This includes the OR’s staff and equipment rather than the surgical department as a whole. Specific duties may include establishing patient care standards and supervising surgical teams. Operating room managers may also be tasked with training new staff members.
This is arguably one of the best nurse administrator positions for mid-career nursing professionals. That’s because the role of an operating room manager usually only requires a few years of experience as an operating room nurse. Yet, it still yields a handsome salary and is associated with a positive job outlook. A BSN is not required for the position. Still, many hospitals and healthcare facilities prefer this respected credential.
#8. Nursing Director
Average Annual Salary: $87,948
Wage Per Hour: $39.03
Some of the highest-paid nurses in the field are not just nurses, but nursing directors. These types of nurse administrators have strong leadership and management skills. They use these skills to provide supervision and oversight to their entire nursing departments. Specific tasks associated with this nurse administrator role may include hiring and training new nurses and developing and implementing nursing protocols. Other duties include ensuring regulations are followed and managing the department’s finances.
A registered nurse will need several years of experience and a BSN credential to be eligible for a nursing directorship. Some nursing directors hold advanced degrees. These credentials may be in nursing, business, and/or health administration. Some nurse administrators also have a clinical nurse specialist designation. A professional certification or license may also be required to practice as a nurse administrator or director. Many nursing directors hold the Certified DNS-CT license from the American Association of Directors of Nursing Services (AADNS).
#9. Informatics Nurse
Average Annual Salary: $79,631
Wage Per Hour: $35.49
Many of the highest-paid nursing careers combine skills in nursing and management. Yet, the role of an informatics nurse marries talents in nursing and technology. These types of nurses trade their bedside duties for more technical tasks. Most of these tasks are directly related to data analytics. Nurse informaticists use specialized software to analyze medical records and other healthcare data. This is essential work to improve clinical efficiency and patient care. These nurses may also test new healthcare technologies and train other nurses to use these advanced systems.
The job of an informatics nurse has been called one of the highest-paid nursing jobs with BSN credentials. Still, an increasing number of informatics nurses hold graduate degrees in the field. One of the most popular of these types of credentials is a Master of Science in Health Informatics or MSHI. Informatics nurses with aspirations of holding directorships or other leadership roles may even consider a doctoral program. Nurse informaticists also need prior experience in the healthcare field. This experience should include working with electronic medical records. They may also be required to hold a professional certification in their specialty area. The most common credential is the Informatics Nursing Certification from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).
#10. Transplant Coordinator
Average Annual Salary: $79,197
Wage Per Hour: $37.11
One of the most intriguing and well-compensated RN jobs is the position of transplant coordinator. These nurses work alongside other trained medical professionals as part of a hospital’s transplant team. Their specific duties may vary depending on where they work.
Generally speaking, transplant nurses have the incredible responsibility of coordinating a highly complex. medical procedure. This procedure involves transplanting a human organ from the donor to recipient. This may include ensuring a proper organ match and providing pre and post-operative care for donors and recipients. Some transplant coordinators may even assist with the actual transplant surgery.
Like many of the highest-paying nursing careers highlighted here, the job of a transplant coordinator requires at least a bachelor of science in nursing or BSN degree. Many transplant nurses hold a master’s degree in nursing, though. A professional license from the American Board for Transplant Certification may also be required for employment.
#11. Nurse Educator
Average Annual Salary: $77,303
Wage Per Hour: $37.93
Do you have an interest in making a broader impact on the nursing community? Then, you may consider a lucrative nursing career as a nurse educator. These seasoned nurses use their professional experiences to develop curricula for student nurses. Nurse educators also play active roles in teaching these students the fundamentals of nursing.
To be successful in this prestigious role, a nurse educator must have a combination of nursing skills and instructional know-how. Nurse educators are nurses and teachers, so they must be skilled in healthcare and education.
Since these professionals are among some of the highest-paid nurses in the field, it’s no surprise that nurse educators must be highly educated themselves. Most universities and schools of nursing require their nurse educators to hold at least a master’s degree in nursing or MSN. Many nurse educators hold a terminal nursing degree, such as a doctorate or DNP. A professional certificate is often required as well. Most nurse educators hold the National League for Nursing’s Certified Nurse Educators (CNE) designation.